Format

Preliminary round: 8 groups of 3 in each area. Winners and
runners-up advance to the first round.First round: 8 single-game ties in each area. Winners advance to
the area quarter-finals.Area quarter-finals: 4 single-game ties in each area. Winners
advance to the area semi-finals.Area semi-finals: 2 single-game ties in each area. Winners
advance to the area finals.Area finals: 1 two-legged tie in each area. Winners advance to
the national final.Final: a single game, played at Wembley.